Southwest
Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang recruiting kids from Texas middle schools
A confirmed Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang member has been arrested for allegedly recruiting students from two Houston middle schools to become new gang members.
Jorgenys Robertson Cova, an illegal alien from Venezuela, entered the United States two years ago, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The 32-year-old was arrested Monday after a string of alleged thefts.
Cova is also alleged to have recruited middle school students from Jane Long Academy and Las Americas, which are part of Houston Independent School District.
One resident of the Bellaire community in Houston, where both schools are located, told FOX 26 Houston “a lot of things have happened that are on the news. So, if it’s happening elsewhere, it might also be happening in our neighborhoods as well, and we’re unaware of it.”
TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBER, ILLEGAL VENEZUELAN MIGRANT, ARRESTED IN HOUSTON
Residents have raised alarms about the presence of the transnational gang in the area. Tren de Aragua, based in Venezuela, has an estimated 5,000 members between Venezuela and the United States. They are linked to drug and human trafficking crimes in both countries.
VENEZUELAN TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBER NABBED IN NY 2 YEARS AFTER BORDER PATROL RELEASED HIM INTO US
Cova was confirmed as a member of Tren de Aragua due in part to his distinct arm tattoos of a clock, a five-point crown and roses. The distinctive tattoos for TdA also include stars, AK-47s and trains as a nod to the Spanish “tren.”
“Cova was arrested after a DPS special agent assigned to the Houston Texas Anti-Gang Center (TAG) was notified of a suspected TdA member living in the Houston area in late September. The suspect, who was identified as Cova, was scheduled for an asylum hearing in Houston on Oct. 7,” the Texas DPS said in a release this week.
Hispanic and Latino residents in the Houston area have felt tension from the recent uptick in Tren de Aragua activity.
“As Hispanics, we pay the price for everything. They take us like delinquents, like we’re bad people. And, unfortunately, it’s because our own people give us a bad reputation,” one resident, speaking in Spanish, told FOX 26 Houston.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has offered $5,000 to anyone who offers information leading to the identification and arrest of anyone affiliated with Tren de Aragua in the Lone Star State.
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Los Angeles, Ca
15 arrested in massive Southern California retail theft bust
Fifteen suspects were arrested during a massive retail theft bust in Ventura County.
The multi-day blitz took place at the Camarillo Premium Outlets from Oct. 4 to 6, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Around $23,000 worth of stolen property was discovered by deputies, along with a stolen vehicle, around 90 grams of methamphetamine and various burglary tools.
Deputies were also involved in two separate vehicle pursuits during the operation.
The suspects were identified as:
- Gonzalo Fernandez, 20, of Watsonville
- Andres Flores, 21, of Watsonville
- Derell Jones, 23, of Long Beach
- Bayron Gabriel Rivera Florez, 23, of Los Angeles
- Gerson Sanchez, 25, of Los Angeles
- Martin Munoz, 30, of Oxnard
- Teresa Raya, 30, of Oxnard
- Leando Quinton Willis, 30, of Gardena
- Dajuan Maurice Butler, 31, of Los Angeles
- Qwana Crystal Moore, 35, of Los Angeles
- Keisa Rene Scott Lyn, 42, of Carson
- Lerin Davron Smallwood, 44, of Carson
- Carolina Valverde, 60, of Van Nuys
- Zuelma Rodriguez, 64, of Oxnard
- Male juvenile, 17, of Porter Ranch
The first vehicle pursuit involved Derrell Jones and Dajuan Butler after reported thefts at Target and Walmart stores in Camarillo. The suspects, driving a Ford Mustang, led deputies on a dangerous chase. At one point, patrol units boxed their vehicle in, but the suspects rammed the patrol cars to escape.
The high-speed chase finally ended when the suspects lost a rear tire. Inside the Mustang, deputies found about $7,000 worth of stolen merchandise from various retail stores. They also found 90 grams of methamphetamine.
The second pursuit involved Carolina Valverde after she was seen reportedly stealing from a Nike store at the Camarillo Outlets. Deputies later spotted her car on the 101 Freeway, but she refused to pull over, leading units on a pursuit.
She eventually crashed into a chainlink fence at a California Highway Patrol weigh station. She continued driving erratically around the parking lot before patrol vehicles boxed her in and ended the chase. Around $7,000 worth of stolen merchandise was also found inside her car, officials said.
The rest of the suspects were all arrested on a variety of charges including conspiracy to commit organized retail theft, possession of stolen property, grand theft, outstanding warrants, resisting arrest, vehicle theft, receiving stolen property, shoplifting, being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and more.
“This two-day event was a collaboration between law enforcement, outlet retailers and the outlet’s security personnel,” deputies said.
The Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force force is comprised of detectives from various agencies within Ventura County focused on combatting organized retail theft, vehicle/vehicle parts theft and cargo theft.
“The task force aims to provide a safe environment for everyone while working hand in hand with retailers, law enforcement agencies and the public to identify, locate and arrest the criminals involved in these types of crimes,” authorities added.
Anyone with information on possible theft cases is encouraged to call the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force at 805-383-8703. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Retailers who are experiencing significant retail theft and are interested in participating in similar blitz operations can call 805-383-8703.
Southwest
1 person killed and at least 12 wounded in shooting at Oklahoma City party
A shooting at a party held at an Oklahoma event center left one person dead and wounded 12 others, police said.
A disturbance led to multiple shots being fired inside and outside a private venue in southwest Oklahoma City around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Capt. Valerie Littlejohn of the Oklahoma City Police Department said in an email.
a CITY IN OKLAHOMA TO PAY MORE THAN $7M TO FORMER DEATH ROW INMATE EXONERATED AFTER NEARLY 50 YEARS IN PRISON
Littlejohn could not immediately provide information about the victims other than that at least two were in critical condition at a hospital.
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Suspects haven’t yet been identified, but several people were detained after the shooting and investigators were interviewing witnesses, Littlejohn said.
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Los Angeles, Ca
Head-on collision leaves 1 dead in Lancaster
A head-on collision between two vehicles left one dead and two injured in Lancaster early Saturday morning.
The crash was reported at 6:14 a.m. in the area of 55th Street East and Avenue J, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and involved two vehicles collided head on for unknown reasons.
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s Lancaster Division later confirmed the fatality. A man, who is yet to be identified publicly, was pronounced dead in a local hospital.
Two others, who remain unidentified, were transported to a local hospital. Their conditions were unknown as of Saturday afternoon.
It’s not yet clear if speed or intoxication contributed to the crash. No additional details were immediately made available.
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